A vicar and ordinand will be lacing up their trainers to run four uphill marathons in four days to help raise vital funds for their church roof.

Revd Dr Nick Widdows and ordinand Rob Argall are so dedicated to helping raise money towards the £400,000 repair bill for St-Johns-In-The-Fields Church roof, they’ve decided to tackle the mountainous challenge.

Rob discovered the elevation between the two Anglican churches in St Ives is 89 metres – so if they run up it 100 times, it will be the equivalent of running up Mount Everest from sea level to its peak, about 8,849m.

After training for five months, since January, they are ready for the fundraising event which is due to take place from May 26-29. They are calling on people to keep donating sponsorship money.

Two people stood with arms crossed and a notice board behind themRevd Nick said: “Rob noticed the elevation is 89 metres and so we devised the Vicars vs Everest challenge.

“I have not run a marathon but have done three quarters of one in training.

“I do run a reasonable amount – I have been training for this since January.”

The church’s roof covering, thought to have been installed in 1858, needs to be restored so the building can continue to function into the future.

Revd Nick said: “Without a new roof, the building will cease to function. We do absolutely have to get it repaired.”

To donate sponsorship money for the challenge visit: https://www.stiveschurch.org.uk/donate  – Donate to St John’s in the fields and use the reference: ‘Everest’.

For more information visit: https://www.stiveschurch.org.uk/st-johns-restoration-project